New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-26
PRIZE WINNERS AND THE PHYSICAL
TANDdRD

STANDARD.
In the current number Of "Scribner's Maya.
zinc DR.. d. A. Sargent, the wcll-known pro-
fessor of Physical Culture at Harvard Uni.
vcrsty, explains the systom which he employs
in the development and training. of the bodily
structure Thore has been an extraordinary
growth of interest in athletic sports during the
last dozen years in all parts Of TIE Unitod
States, and the colleges have kept pace With
the country in providing the appliances Of
physical exercise. But hitherto the operation
of these facilities has been of rather desultory
and haphazard character, and Professor Sargent
deserves hearty support in his attempt to in
troduce order and reason into their employ
mcnt. His method, though deduced from his
own observations and experience as an in
stuctor of college students, applies not to
them alone but to the work of all athletic
organizations, and indeed to every individual
who seeks TO develop his physical powers
symmetrcally. DR.. Sargent expresses the be.
lief that less than one per cent Of the young
men Of the land Systematically practise ath-
lctcs, and less than ten per cent Of the mem
bcrs Of athletic organizations take an active
part in the sports which they support. Side
10y side. then. with the multiplication Of the
means Of physical training exists. in his opin
ion, singular lack Of active interest in such
training, and this he believes Is due 10 an in
creasing tendency to pursue sport as an end
in itself instead Of as a means TO an end.
Undoubtedly there is a largo element Of
truth in this rather discouragDg statement of
the fact. and as TO the principle involved there
can be no doubt whatever. The value Of ath-
lctc apparatus and its employment consists
not in enabling one man in hundred TO win
n prize but in enabling the ninety nine to OBJ
tain better physical equipment for the obga>
tons and pleasures Of life But VIC arc in
clincd 10 think that Professor Sargent under
rates the practical benefit conferred upon young
mon by the athletic organizations to which
they belong, even under the imperfect employ
ment OF their resources which every one must
dcprecate The colleges are at present tho
butt Of immcasurable joking by reason OF the
absorbing interest which the students appear to
take in the result OF boat races and ball
matches, and undoubtedly their tendency is
too much toward professionalism But after
all IL is the quiet routine OF study and rcfcc-
ton which proceeds without notice. and the
brief frenzy Of championship contest which is
sentimental considerations rs increased devo.
ton TO their own college and closer tic among
themselves, the practical value TO tho students
of intercollegiate contests lies in the stimulus
to gener participation In healthy sports
which they afford The crew and the nine
serve as texts, TO a certain extent for the whole
college community-to just what extent it Is
impossible to say. 1t may very likely be true
that taking the average, the champion players
and oarsmcn are losers by their devotion TO ball
and boat but IL may also be true that their
personal sacrifice results in a genuine gain 10
the whole body Of students. The great mn
jority may not be systematically at work In the
gymnasium on the river or the field, but they
are nevertheless stimulated TO some particpa
ton in the sports which they encourage by the
small minority upon whom depends the athletic
glory Of all. And this stimulus continues much
longer than four years The graduates are to
be seen in great numbers wherever there Is o
chance for cxhilarating eXercise-rowing. walk.
ing, driving, shooting sailing, playing baseball
and tennis. Tho same stimulus is not less
prevalent and operative among the membc rs of
athletic organizations outside Of college towns
It's results are not what they ought to be and
easily might be. The athletic development is
not persistent and sustained 1t is generally
spasmodic, often In the wrong direction and
sometimes carried to extremes but there Is
abundant reason to believe that upon the
whole, 1t is valuable and that it is slowly raising
the physical standard of the Nation
Professor Sargents instructive statement of
the principles which he has formulated and
upon which he endcayors to conduct his work at
Harvard and elsewhere has 20 do with more
precise considerations than the foregoing. He
Is building up a science Of physical develop
ment, and the influence of his labos in this di.
rcction ought TO be wide and deep. But 1t is
desirable in reinforcing his argument that tho
pursuit of sport ought to be means instead Of
an end not to overlook the fact that the num-
Der Of young men is steadily increasing who
keep that principle in view.
CANADA AND AMERICAN DIVORCES
A recent Canadian decision illustrates anew